Contactless connector systems

Abstract

A system and method uses near-field or inductively coupled UWB (Ultra Wide Band) systems to implement high speed electrical data connectors without the need for a direct electrical connection. A data connector system has a first connector portion and a second connector portion. The first connector portion comprises a UWB transmitter with a data input and a first UWB coupling element driven by the UWB transmitter. The second connector portion comprises a second UWB coupling element and a UWB receiver with a data output. The UWB receiver has an input from the second UWB coupling element. The data connector system has a connected configuration in which the first and second UWB coupling elements are within an operative range of one another, such that the coupling elements are inductively coupled to one another to permit data to be transferred from the data input to the data output, and a disconnected configuration in which the first and second connector portions are separated by greater than the operative range.

1 . A data connector system, the system comprising: 
 a first connector portion, the first connector portion comprising a UWB transmitter with a data input and a first UWB coupling element driven by the UWB transmitter;    a second connector portion, the second connector portion comprising a second UWB coupling element and a UWB receiver with a data output, the UWB receiver having an input from the second UWB coupling element, and    wherein the data connector system has a connected configuration in which the first and second UWB coupling elements are within an operative range of one another, such that the coupling elements are inductively coupled to one another to permit data to be transferred from the data input to the data output, and    wherein a disconnected configuration in which the first and second connector portions are separated by greater than the operative range.    
   
   
       2 . A data connector system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the operative range is equal to or less than a near field range of each of the coupling elements.  
   
   
       3 . A data connector system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the operative range is less than 3 cm, less than 1 cm, or less than 0.5 cm.  
   
   
       4 . A data connector system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in the connected configuration the first and second coupling elements are substantially aligned with one another.  
   
   
       5 . A data connector system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second connector portions has a plurality of UWB coupling elements.  
   
   
       6 . A data connector system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of UWB coupling elements have different mutual orientations.  
   
   
       7 . A data connector system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein different ones of the plurality of UWB coupling elements are configured to provide different data connectivity.  
   
   
       8 . A data connector system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein connection to different ones of the plurality of coupling elements is configured to invoke different data processing functions.  
   
   
       9 . A data connector system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the functions include one or more of a data storage function, a data retrieval function and a print function.  
   
   
       10 . A data connector system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first connector portion includes a data multiplexer connected between the data input and the UWB transmitter, and    the second connector portion includes a data de-multiplexer connected between the UWB receiver and the data output,    whereby the connector is configured to make a plurality of simultaneous data connections.    
   
   
       11 . A data connector system as claimed in  10 , wherein at least one of the simultaneous data connections comprises a data bus connection.  
   
   
       12 . A data connector system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the simultaneous data connections comprises a video data connection.  
   
   
       13 . A data connector system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first connector portion further comprises a UWB receiver having a data output and an associated coupling element; and    the second connector portion further comprises a UWB transmitter having a data input and an associated coupling element,    whereby the data connection system is configured for bi-directional data transmission.    
   
   
       14 . A data connector system as claimed in any  claim 1 , further comprising an inductive electrical power transfer system.  
   
   
       15 . A data connector system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connector portions lack a direct mutual electrical connection.  
   
   
       16 . A first connector portion as defined in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       17 . A second connector portion as defined in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       18 . A consumer electronic device docking station incorporating one of the first or second connector portions as defined in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       19 . A portable consumer electronic device as incorporating one of the first or second connector portions as defined in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       20 . A substantially environmentally sealed electronic device incorporating one of the first or second connector portions as defined in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       21 . An electrical backplane having a plurality of card sockets each incorporating one of the first or second connector portions as recited in  claim 16 .  
   
   
       22 . A card for the backplane of  claim 21 , the card having a connector incorporating one of the connector portions complementary to a connector portion with which the card interfaces when installed on the backplane.  
   
   
       23 . A UWB data connector system, the connector system comprising: 
 first and second connector parts, the connector parts being configured to mechanically interface to one another, each of the connector parts including a UWB coupling element,    wherein when the first and second connector parts are interfaced one of the UWB coupling elements is in the near field of the other UWB coupling elements.    
   
   
       24 . A UWB data connector system as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the first and second connector parts lack a direct electrical connection with one another.  
   
   
       25 . A method of providing an electrical data connection using UWB coupling elements, the method comprising: 
 receiving data for transmission across the connection;    encoding the data as a UWB signal;    transmitting the UWB signal from a first of the coupling elements;    receiving the UWB signal at a second of the UWB coupling elements;    recovering the data from the received UWB signal; and    inductively coupling the first and second UWB coupling elements.    
   
   
       26 . A method as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the encoding comprises encoding the data as an impulsive UWB signal.  
   
   
       27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26  wherein, the encoding comprises encoding the data using one or more patterns of UWB impulses.  
   
   
       28 . A method as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the coupling comprises near-field coupling between UWB antennas.  
   
   
       29 . A method as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the coupling elements comprise monopole coupling elements.  
   
   
       30 . An electrical data connector, comprising: 
 UWB coupling elements;    means for receiving data for transmission across the connection;    means for encoding the data as a UWB signal;    means for transmitting the UWB signal from a first of the coupling elements;    means for receiving the UWB signal at a second of the UWB coupling elements; and    means for recovering the data from the received UWB signal; and    wherein the connector is further configured for inductive coupling of the first and second UWB coupling elements.    
   
   
       31 . A docking station for an electronic device, the electronic device comprising: 
 a plurality of separate data connections coupled to a near-field UWB interface,    wherein the docking station comprises a near-field USB interface coupled to one or both of a multiplexer and de-multiplexer, whereby the docking station is enabled to connect via an inductive wireless UWB connection to the separate data connections of the electronic device.    
   
   
       32 . A docking station as claimed in  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 an inductive electrical power supply system for the electronic device.    
   
   
       33 . A docking station as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the electronic device comprises a portable computer; and    wherein the separate data connections include a video data connection,    whereby the computer is operable to receive power and display video using the docking station without making direct electrical connections to the docking station.    
   
   
       34 . An environmentally sealed electronic device, comprising: 
 one or more external data connections all coupled to a near-field UWB interface,    whereby the device is operable using the one or more external data connections without making direct electrical connection to the device.    
   
   
       35 . An environmentally sealed electronic device as claimed in  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 means to receive electrical power for powering the device inductively from an external power supply unit.    
   
   
       36 . A method of operating an electronic device in a hostile environment, the method comprising: 
 providing data communications for the device using a near-field UWB coupling;    providing an electrical power supply for the device using an inductive coupling; and    operating the device using the electrical power supply to communicate data over the near-field UWB coupling.    
   
   
       37 . A method of providing short-range UWB data communications, the method comprising: 
 inputting data to be communicated;    encoding the data as pattern of UWB impulses;    transmitting the pattern of impulses from a UWB transmitter to a UWB receiver;    receiving the pattern of impulses at the receiver;    decoding the pattern of impulses to provide decoded data; and    outputting the decoded data.    
   
   
       38 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting at a sufficiently low power level that multipath components of the transmitted impulses at the receiver are substantially suppressed.  
   
   
       39 . A short-range UWB data communications transmitter, comprising: 
 means for inputting data to be communicated;    means for encoding the data as a pattern of UWB impulses; and    means for transmitting the pattern of impulses from a UWB transmitter to a UWB receiver.    
   
   
       40 . A UWB data communications receiver, comprising: 
 a received signal input to receive a pattern of UWB impulses;    means for decoding the pattern of impulses to provide decoded data; and    means for outputting the decoded data.    
   
   
       41 . A method of selecting an operational function to be implemented by an interface unit for an electronic device, the electronic device having a short-range UWB communications interface, the interface unit having a plurality of complementary short-range UWB communications interfaces spaced apart over a region of the unit, each the interface being associated with one of the operational functions, the method comprising: 
 selecting a the operational function by bringing the UWB communications interface of the electronic device into range of a selected one of the UWB communications interfaces of the interface unit.    
   
   
       42 . A method as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the UWB communications interface range is sufficiently short to enable selective communications with one of the interface unit communications interfaces.  
   
   
       43 . A method as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the selecting also comprises selecting a relative orientation of the electronic device communications interface and the selected interface unit communications interface.  
   
   
       44 . An interface unit for implementing a selected one of a plurality of operational functions for an electronic device having a short-range UWB communications interface, the interface unit comprising: 
 a plurality of complementary short-range UWB communications interfaces spaced apart over a region of the unit, each the interface being associated with one of the operational functions; and    means for selecting a the operational function for implementing in response to the electronic device being brought into communications range of a corresponding the communications interface.    
   
   
       45 . An electrical backplane system, the system comprising: 
 a backplane;    a plurality of mechanical connectors mounted on the backplane, each configured to receive an electronic circuit;    a plurality of UWB coupling devices, at least one associated with each the mechanical connector; and    one or more wired communications links between two or more of the UWB coupling devices.    
   
   
       46 . An electrical backplane system as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the UWB coupling devices comprise inductive or near-field UWB coupling devices.  
   
   
       47 . An electrical backplane system as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the wired links include at least one active link.  
   
   
       48 . A UWB data connector system, the system comprising: 
 a first UWB transceiver;    a second UWB transceiver;    a first set of software drivers for the first UWB transceiver; and    a second set of software drivers for the second UWB transceiver,    wherein the first set of drivers comprises a first UWB multiplex driver for providing a plurality of first interfaces to the first UWB transceiver, and a plurality of second drivers coupled to the plurality of first interfaces to provide a plurality of software interfaces, and    wherein the second set of drivers comprises a second UWB multiplex driver for providing a plurality of second interfaces to the second UWB transceiver, and a plurality of third drivers coupled to the plurality of second interfaces to provide a plurality of hardware interfaces.    
   
   
       49 . A UWB data connector system as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the software interfaces comprise application program interfaces.  
   
   
       50 . A UWB data connector system as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the hardware interfaces include one or more interfaces selected from the group consisting of RS-232, RS-423, RS-485, IEEE-488, IEEE-1394, USB, USB 2, personal computer parallel port, video, composite video, S-video, RGB video, PCI bus, PCI express bus, PCMCIA interface, Ethernet and digital camera interface.  
   
   
       51 . A UWB data connector system as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the software interfaces are configured to provide one or more standard interfaces for the hardware interfaces.  
   
   
       52 . A UWB data connector system as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the system is configured to provide protocol translation between a first protocol used at one or more of the software interfaces and a second protocol used at one or more the hardware interfaces.  
   
   
       53 . A UWB data connector system as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the first and second UWB multiplex drivers are configured to communicate data between the first and third drivers using a plurality of protocols concurrently.  
   
   
       54 . A UWB data connector system as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein one or both of the first and second UWB multiplex drivers include a service discovery protocol for discovering one or more services provided or requested by another the UWB transceiver and driver set.  
   
   
       55 . A UWB data connector as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein the service discovery protocol includes one or more of: a protocol to detect whether another the UWB transceiver is within range, a protocol to advertise one or more services which may be offered to the another the UWB transceiver and driver set, and a protocol to make available one or more of the first, second or third, drivers to the other the UWB transceiver and driver set, responsive to a the service advertisement.  
   
   
       56 . A UWB data connector in  claim 48 , comprising: 
 a third UWB transceiver; and    a third set of drivers for the third UWB transceiver, the third set of drivers comprising: 
 a third UWB multiplex driver for providing a plurality of third interfaces to the third UWB transceiver, and  
 a plurality of hardware or software interface drivers coupled to the plurality of third interfaces,  
   whereby the UWB data connector system is enabled for point-to-multipoint data connection.    
   
   
       57 . A UWB data connector system, the system comprising: 
 a first UWB transceiver;    a second UWB transceiver;    at least one driver for the first UWB transceiver; and    at least one driver the second UWB transceiver,    wherein one or both of the drivers include a service discovery protocol for discovering one or more services provided or requested by the other the UWB transceiver and driver.